Meet Renee
Prenatal dietitian & nutritionist, author, speaker, recipe developer, mother
My story began with food…
Growing up, food and cooking was central to our family. It was our love language, so it was only natural that I finished school and studied nutrition and dietetics at university. After graduating, I worked as a hospital dietitian where I gained a passion for paediatrics. I thought my career would continue in the hospital system working with infants and children, but 8 years later everything changed…I fell pregnant.
Pregnancy changed everything for me…
Most people would assume that a dietitian would know what to eat when they’re pregnant. Wrong. We were not taught this at university and to be frank, I was appalled by the education (or lack of) I received about nutrition when I had my first antenatal visit. The guidelines were vague, conflicting and disempowering. “Don’t eat this, don’t eat that”. Even as a dietitian, I found it difficult to navigate what I should be eating. So I decided to do my own research and what I was reading blew my mind! I discovered that the foods we eat in the lead up and during pregnancy had a huge impact on the health of the mother and baby. Why was this information not common knowledge? Well, I made it my mission to make it that way and help other women on this journey - I wrote a book.
Nurture the Seed took 4 years of researching and writing until it was published. I roped in one of my best friends, Georgia Gregory, to write it with me. We both went through a pregnancy ourselves during this time, so not only did we implement current research in our book, but lived experience too.
Nurture the Seed is the pregnancy nutrition guide that every mother needs. My journey into motherhood truly changed my career and enhanced my love for all things food, nourishment and cooking. I left my job at the hospital and I now devote my work to fertility, pregnancy and postpartum nutrition - empowering women like you to eat wholesome food and thrive. Because, without a doubt, this is the most important time in your life to have optimal nutrition.
“From experience, I can confidently say that pregnancy can be both challenging and idyllic intertwined with emotion (thanks hormones). When I approached it with a positive mindset, empowered by knowledge and fueled with nutritious food, I knew I was giving myself and my baby a real head start.”
— Renee Jennings
My approach
I don't believe in diets - I believe in eating fresh, local, nutrient-dense wholefoods - with a big focus on enjoyment, connection and learning how to have a positive relationship with food. My work is known for being research-focussed yet practical. Let’s go back to basics and nourish mothers and babies in the most simple, delicious and effective way.
